Aston Martin DBR1, 1959

Aston Martin DBR1, 1959

Aston Martin DBR1, 1959

Aston Martin DB4 GT, 1959

Aston Martin DB4 GT, 1959

The Aston Martin DB4 GT made its premiere at the 1959 London Motor Show. The car was designed by Aston Martin and used the Superleggera body frame system - aluminium panels on tubular support frames - produced by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. Although similar to the Aston Martin DB4, the differences added up to a very different motor car.

5 inches were chopped off the original Aston Martin DB4 wheelbase, making the GT easier to handle on a race track and reducing the overall weight; the engine was equipped with new twin-plug head and 45 DCO Webers, which increase power output to an impressive 302 bhp. The Aston Martin DB4 GT was the first of many Aston Martin's to use the cowled headlights.

Technical Specifications
    * Engine: dohc I-6, 3670 cc; 302 bhp (Aston Martin DB4 GT) 314bhp (Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato) @ 6000 rpm, 240 lbs-ft @ 5000 rpm
    * Transmission: 4-speed manual DB
    * Suspension: Front: upper-and-lower A-arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Rear: live axle, Watt linkage, trailing links, coil springs
    * Brakes: front/rear discs
    * Length: 14'4"
    * Width: 5'6"
    * Height: 4'4"
    * Wheelbase: 7'9"
    * Weight: 1269 kg (2798 Ibs)
    * Top Speed: 153 mph
    * 0-60 mph: 6.4 sec.
    * Price New: £ 4534
    * Production: 75
    * Production Dates: 1959 - 1963

Aston Martin DB4, 1958

Aston Martin DB4, 1958

 

 

The Aston Martin DB4 started in 1956, at the same time as the Aston Martin DB Mark III. The key people involved in the development of the Aston Martin DB4 were general manager John Wyer, chassis designer Harold Beach, and engine designer Tadek Marek. Every major component in the Aston Martin DB4 was new. The four-seater body was design by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, using their 'Superleggera' system by which alloy panels are fixed to a tubular frame built onto the very strong platform chassis.

The entirely new car was shown at the London Motor show in 1958, sharing a stand with the DB Mark III which was to continue in production for almost a year. The Aston Martin DB4 was the first production car to capable of 0-100-0 mph in under 30 sec. claiming to reach the 100 mph mark in 21 seconds. A very impressive car that put Aston Martin back in competition with other Mediterranean sports car manufacturers.

Tadek Marek's new 3.7 litre, six-cylinder twin overhead camshaft, all alloy engine first ran in 1956 and was raced in the Aston Martin DBR2 in 1957.

A four-seater convertible was announced at the London Motor Show in 1961.
By the time that the Aston Martin DB4 ended it's production run, there were five distinct series (i.e. Aston Martin DB4 GT and Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato).

Technical Specifications
    * Engine: all dohc I-6, 3670 cc, 240 bhp @ 5500 rpm, 240 lbs-ft @4250 rpm; Vantage: 266 bhp @5750 rpm
    * Transmission: 4-speed manual with optional overdrive or optional Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic
    * Suspension: Front: upper-and-lower A-arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Rear: live axle, Watt linkage, trailing links, coil springs
    * Brakes: Servo assisted front/rear discs
    * Length: 14'9"
    * Width: 5'6"
    * Height: 4'4"
    * Wheelbase: 8'4"
    * Weight: 1308kg
    * Top Speed: 140 mph
    * 0-60 mph: 9 sec.
    * Price New: £ 3,976 (Saloon), £ 4,194 (Convertible)
    * Production Dates: October 1958 - June 1963